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Saudi Arabia And UAE Join The Global Rush For AI Dominance

As operational expenses for AI soar, the race is on to purchase as many high-performance Nvidia chips as possible.

Published

2 years ago

August 16, 2023

saudi arabia and uae join the global rush for ai dominance

The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are now part of the global race to buy up thousands of Nvidia A100 and H100 chips, two of the company’s high-performance processors, due to their pivotal role in Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) development.

The Nvidia H100 chip, with a massive price tag of $40,000, is the world’s first processor designed specifically for GenAI. Saudi Arabia already has a stash of over 3,000 of the chips at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). Meanwhile, the UAE has access to thousands of Nvidia processors and has even developed a unique large language model, known as Falcon, at the Technology Innovation Institute.

The ongoing global chip shortage is contributing to the scarcity and pricing of the processors, and the total cost for server infrastructure is expected to exceed $76 billion by 2028. OpenAI, the leading player in the field, currently runs ChatGPT on a cloud infrastructure costing millions of dollars per day to run. At the same time, the massive amounts of computing power required by these AI systems is also responsible for driving up energy consumption and other related expenses.

Also Read: Dubai Community Launches AI-Powered Pedestrian Crossings

The global scramble for high-performance Nvidia chips reflects AI’s pivotal role in shaping modern, digital-first economies. The ambitions of Saudi Arabia and the UAE to play leading roles in AI development come at significant financial costs and underscore the need for highly efficient computing methods. The development of AI involves not only scientific innovation but also careful attention to the ethical and environmental implications of the technology.

One thing is for sure: As the AI arms race gathers pace, striking a balance between technological advancement and social and environmental responsibility will become paramount.

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Warner Bros. Discovery Invests In OSN Streaming To Expand MENA Reach

The move follows an exclusive deal between OSN and HBO in 2022 and its recent acquisition of a majority stake in music platform Anghami.

Published

2 days ago

March 24, 2025

Nour Nasir

warner bros discovery invests in osn streaming to expand mena reach

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has acquired a stake in OSN Streaming Limited, a subsidiary of the OSN Group. The investment is part of WBD’s growing commitment to the Middle East and North Africa streaming market. The deal will be finalized in phases, pending regulatory approval.

For OSN, the partnership strengthens its leadership position in the region’s highly competitive streaming landscape. The company has been expanding its content portfolio through long-term partnerships, including an exclusive deal with HBO in 2022. Earlier this year, OSN also acquired a majority stake in music streaming platform Anghami, further diversifying its digital offerings.

Sheikha Dana Naser Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, Group CEO of KIPCO and Chairperson of OSN, highlighted the importance of the partnership:

“We are delighted to be announcing this deal between WBD and OSN, which […] affirms the success of the strategy that KIPCO laid out to focus on and strengthen our streaming business, even in a competitive market environment. The transaction builds on OSN’s strong growth trajectory and market leadership in MENA’s streaming industry, strengthening its competitive position as one of the region’s premier entertainment destinations”.

Jamie Cooke, Executive Vice President & Managing Director for Central Europe, Turkey, and the Middle East at Warner Bros. Discovery, emphasized the importance of local content alongside global hits:

“It’s our goal to tell the greatest stories, whilst innovating our products and distribution channels […] We recognize that alongside enjoying the latest global hits, regional audiences also want stories from and about the region that reflect their own cultures and experiences. Through this deal, we’re delighted to announce that both OSN and Warner Bros. Discovery will invest in high-quality, locally produced content, ensuring a richer and more diverse offering for viewers”.

Also Read: Best Video Streaming Services In The Middle East

OSN Group CEO Joe Kawkabani echoed this sentiment, calling WBD’s investment a major milestone:

“We are thrilled to welcome WBD as a strategic partner. As a global leader in entertainment, WBD brings unparalleled expertise, innovation, and a rich portfolio of iconic brands. This investment is a significant milestone in OSN’s growth journey, reinforcing our dedication to delivering unique and compelling content. It also bolsters our commitment to expanding our investment in local content, broadening its reach beyond MENA to global audiences”.

WBD’s streaming services, Max and Discovery+, now boast nearly 117 million subscribers worldwide. The company’s increasing footprint in MENA is part of a broader expansion strategy that began with the opening of its Dubai office in 2012. Since then, WBD has steadily built its presence in the region, ensuring that MENA audiences have access to world-class entertainment.